Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-06-07
Tuesday, jane =, 1887.
SUNDAY.


The n Of observing Sunday 80
rs to conform to q decent respect for
the average religious sentiment of the
country and yet make IT in fact a day
of rest to weary labor-a breathing
spell between the weeks of toil-has
been the topic of endless discussion.
II Is not a question to be decided ever
morally by the churches Of the coun-
try. In the first place they could not
agree on the subject. Then II they
were united they could furnish no
standard even to suit themselves. The
Sunday laws of two hundred years
ego, dictated by church authority,
would be repudiated by every congr
cation 10 the land to-day. Even fifty
years have witnessed wonderful
changes In this respect. With the
growth of schools and the spread Of
intelligence the human mind has ex-
panded. Men In and out of the
churches have become more liberal.
more tolerant and more sensible. Reg
ulations for keeping Sunday in the
United States, to lie practical and have
force, must recognize the rights and
the liberties of all. IL is conceded
that the religious scruples Of every
community are entitled to be re-
spected. Hence. by common consent,
the vicinity of churches, during SER
vice, is protected so far Is practicable,
from noise or disturbance. Even fun
eral professions, when accompanied
by music, will usually avoid the pre-
cincts Of q church during these hours.
This regard for the religious convic-
tions of others, so prevalent at the
present day, ia a highly civilized sen
timent and does honor to human
nature. Yet II Is no more than a
spontaneous concession to the letter
and spirit of our national constitution.
Freedom of conscience is guaranteed
alike to all. 1t 10 the prerogative of no
church or of no number of churches.
1t follows that rules for observing
Sunday, while they guard the rights
of church-going people, should equally
consider the guaranteed liberties Of
people who are not attendants of
churches. II this part Of the popula-
tion freely concede the religious OBJ
servance of Sunday TO all who are In.
clined that way, and willingly com.
ply with reasonable regulations for its
protection, Is ii surprising that they
should deem themselves entitled to
secure rest and recreation on that day
after their W name and according
to their W judgment? Attempts 10
deprive them Of such discretion have
met with no permanent success at re-
cent times. Just DOW New York has
a spasm of the kind. The rural dis.
tricts have passed a law for the metro
polls which would be better suited to
an interior village. IL has been en-
forced for three weeks, and the moral
effect IL admittedly bad. Each sun
day 1t has driven all who could get
away out Of the city 10 every direction
and drunkenness and vice have been
greater than before. Generally such
laws are worse than useless, for popu-
lar sentiment prevents their enforce
ment. In this case the law Is applied
for the purpose of illustrating its OBJ
jectionable character. The physical
necessity for periodical rest from labor
furnishes a Sunday platform wide
enough for people Of every shade of
belief. 1t accords with the common
sense OF all. 1t sustains the demand
for closing stores and %suspending all
kinds Of business Of a nature to be sus-
pended. The M of stores. Of fac
tories, OF work shops, need the rest.
The men who toll in these places re-
quire rest. The views Of the church
as to Sunday may change in the years
TO come as they have changed In the
past. But the requirements Of nature
furnish a guarantee for a rest every
seventh day which will last as long as
mankind survives.-Excbange.